May 13, 2008 12:12 PM

SOURCE:
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Sporting clinch Champions League spot

Sporting secured the second automatic Champions League spot when they beat Boavista 2-1 on the last day of Portuguese Premier League season on Sunday.

Porto, who clinched the championship more than a month ago, finished with 69 points from 30 matches after they were stripped of six points for alleged bribery of referees in the 2003-04 season.

Sporting finished second on 55 points and Vitoria Guimaraes third on 53.

Vitoria Guimaraes, who crushed Estrela Amadora 4-0 on Sunday, booked a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League for the first time.

Veteran Benfica playmaker Rui Costa did a lap of honour after his side’s 3-0 victory over Vitoria Setubal on Sunday, his last match before retiring.

“Retired with my fans, retired with pride, I feel happy now,” the 36-year-old told 50,000 supporters at the Luz stadium in Lisbon.

“There was a lot of emotion and sadness in my retirement but I feel proud of my career,” he said.

Champions Porto, without nine first-team regulars, celebrated their third successive title with a 2-0 win at Naval on Saturday.

Benfica, Maritimo and Vitoria Setubal will play in the UEFA Cup.

FIRST GOAL

Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Tiui gave Sporting a 2-1 home win over Boavista with his first goal for the club.

Boavista had gone ahead after five minutes when striker Ivan tapped in a cross the left by Mateus.

Argentine midfielder Romagnoli equalised from a penalty six minutes later and Tiui grabbed the winner with a close-range shot after being set up by Izmailov on 23 minutes.

Vitoria Guimaraes opened the scoring against Estrela Amadora after 37 minutes through a header by captain Flavio Meireles.

Winger Alan, Brazilian defender Andrezinho and the French midfielder Desmarets completed the rout in front of 28,000 delirious fans.

Benfica failed to clinch a Champions League spot despite a 3-0 home victory over Vitoria Setubal.

Rui Costa set up Benfica’s first goal with a cross for Greek Konstantinos Katsouranis to head home after 25 minutes.

Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo and Nuno Gomes completed the scoring.